…asks Kate with the anticipation and excitement that is purely 4 years old. “Of course you can darling…”, I reply and then mutter as I survey the situation we find ourselves in, “…in China everything is possible and life jackets it seems are optional?”  It’s hard though not to be consumed by Kate’s enthusiasm and embrace the ‘Dora’ like adventure this must be…it’s very likely these murky waters may contain snakes and alligators too!  So we all pile in: Kate, Mom, Grandma and Dad in to what can only be described as ‘suspect’ and ‘questionable’ fiberglass boat, more than slightly worse for wear…battery powered with only 2 speeds: full speed ahead and full speed reverse controlled by a corroded toggle switch which now explains a lot, OMG.  The adults take some time to ease in to their seats, search quietly for the life vests and find 2 tattered and exhausted specimens strapped permanently to the canopy underside…a finger points and there is a nervous chuckle from someone, but nothing is said…we push away from shore and flip the toggle.  All of these concerns and trepidation melt away at the permanent grin and giggles from Kate as she captains the vessel for the next hour – 60 minutes of  pure joy and happiness, and I suspect a little magic for Kate. It is one of those moments in our history as a family that more than defines us…is one of the those experiences that you can catch me quietly smiling about…and if I had a ‘bucket list’ would be checked complete with a big 🙂 in the margin.

*********************
Lawrence Lewis

“Certain is it that there is no kind of affection so purely angelic as of a father to a daughter.  In love to our wives there is desire; to our sons, ambition; but to our daughters there is something which there are no words to express.”  ~Joseph Addison

About Lawrence Lewis

I do a number of things professionally...but most of all and the true purpose of what I do through "my work" is to provide for my family, be a good husband and great father, and try to make a difference as a world citizen...I guess it's not much more complicated than that 🙂